‘The worst moment of my life’ – Alexander Zverev says he regrets attacking umpire’s chair in Acapulco

Alexander Zverev says being expelled from the Mexican Open was the “worst moment of his life.”

The Olympic Champion had been handed an eight week suspended ban and fined $ 40,000 (£ 31,000) for smashing his racquet against the umpire’s chair and verbally abused Alessandro Germani during a first round doubles match in Acapulco last month.

On Monday he was guilty of a “major offense” after an ATP review and was issued a further suspended $ 25,000 (£ 19,000) fine.

“It’s still embarrassing for me now,” the world No. 3 said.

“Walking around the Locker room, it’s not a nice feeling. But we all do Mistakes. I’m also a human being, and I can guarantee you I will never act this way again in my life. It was definitely the worst moment of my life. “

Zverev said he is working hard to improve his conduct.

“I’ve been doing work, meditation-wise,” he added.

“I think there are stressful situations in everyone’s life where stuff like this happens. I’m not the first, I won’t be the last for something bad to happen on the court.

“I know who I am as a person and this doesn’t reflect on me. I have played until 5am the day before – the same day I went back to play doubles.

“I am somebody that gives it his all on the court. I think a lot of top singles players would have maybe come out to the doubles court and if they had lost the match, they would have been fine with it.

“I would never physically harmed anyone.”

Zverev’s suspended ban will be activated if he is fined for unsportsmanlike conduct, or verbal or physical abuse any time between now and February 22 next year.

The suspended punishment from the ATP is a similar one that was handed to Nick Kyrgios in 2019 where the Australian broke two racquets and shouted at the umpire.

“If I do that again, they’re every right to ban me – it’s as simple as that,” Zverev added.

“If I do that again, it means I haven’t learned. I think everybody in life deserves a second chance but if you repeatedly do Mistakes it means that you haven’t learned.”

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